Buffering unit for stepper exerciser

ABSTRACT

A stepper exerciser includes a base to which two pedal supports are respectively and pivotably connected, and a buffering unit is connected between the two pedal supports and the base. The buggering unit includes two elongate resilient boards which support the two pedal supports so that when the two pedal supports are alternatively pivoted downward, the two resilient boards are deformed alternatively and store energy which bounce the pedal supports upward when the two pedal supports are alternatively released.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Fields of the invention

The present invention relates to a stepper exerciser, and more particularly, to a buffering unit for supporting two pedals of the stepper exerciser.

2. Descriptions of Related Art

The conventional stepper exercisers usually include a base with two pedals which are cooperated with a buffering unit such that the user alternatively pivots the two pedals up and down to get exercising features. The buttering unit can be a hydraulic unit or a pneumatic unit, generally, a cylinder is used to each of the two pedals. When pivoting either pedal, the hydraulic liquid is forced to flow to another space and generates resistance. When the pedal is released, the hydraulic liquid flows back to the main space to allow the pedal to be pivoted upward. Similarly, if the buffering unit uses a pneumatic cylinder, when the pedal is pivoted downward, the air is compressed to generate resistance, and when the pedal is released, the pedal is pivoted upward by the force from the expanded air. Besides, an adjustable damping device may be used to be cooperated with the hydraulic unit or a pneumatic unit, however, the adjustable damping device is complicated and expensive. In addition, the conventional stepper exerciser is bulky and heavy.

The present invention intends to provide a buffering unit for a stepper exerciser which eliminates the shortcomings mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a stepper exerciser and comprises a base to which two pedal supports are respectively and pivotably connected, and a buffering unit is connected between the two pedal supports and the base. The buggering unit includes two elongate resilient boards which support the two pedal supports so that when the two pedal supports are alternatively pivoted downward, the two resilient boards are deformed alternatively and store energy which bounce the pedal supports upward when the two pedal supports are alternatively released.

Preferably, each of the two resilient boards has a first end and a second end. The first end of each of the two resilient boards is connected to a mount which is fixed to the base. The second end of each of the two resilient boards supports at the underside of the pedal support corresponding thereto.

Preferably, the two respective first ends of the two resilient boards are merged together to form a V-shaped portion and connected to the mount. The two respective second ends of the two resilient boards extend upward.

Preferably, a neck extends from the mount and is connected to the V-shaped portion,

Preferably, each of the two pedal supports has a contact member located at the underside thereof. The contact members each have a ridge which contacts the top of the resilient board corresponding thereto.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a stepper exerciser with simplified structure and comprises a buffering unit to allow the two pedal supports to be alternatively pivoted.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the stepper exerciser of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view to show the stepper exerciser of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an end view to show the stepper exerciser of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an end view to show the stepper exerciser of the present invention, wherein one of the pedal supports is pivoted downward, and

FIG. 5 is an end view to show the stepper exerciser of the present invention, wherein the other one of the pedal supports is pivoted downward.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the stepper exerciser of the present invention comprises a base 10, two pedal supports 20 and a buffering unit 30. The base 10 includes two transverse bars 11, 12, and a longitudinal bar 13 is connected between the two transverse bars 11, 12. A post 14 extends from the transverse bar 11, and two rods 15 extend from two opposite direction of the post 14. The two pedal supports 20 are respectively and pivotably connected to the two rods 15, and each pedal support 20 has a pedal 21 connected to the top thereof.

The buffering unit 30 includes two elongate resilient boards 31 and a mount 32, wherein the mount 32 has a recess 320 with which the longitudinal bar 13 is engaged, the mount 32 is fixed to the longitudinal bar 13 by extending bolts 35 through the mount 32 and connected to the longitudinal bar 13. Each of the two resilient boards 31 has a first end 311 and a second end 310 which is a free end. A neck 34 extends from the mount 32. The two respective first ends 311 of the two resilient boards 31 are merged together to form a V-shaped portion and the V-shaped portion is connected to the neck 34 extending from the mount 32. The two respective second ends 310 of the two resilient boards 31 extend upward in a curved form or a straight form. The two respective second ends 310 of the two resilient boards 31 are respectively supported at the middle portion of the underside of the two pedal supports 20. A rounded angle 33 is defined at the V-shaped portion and between the two first ends 311 of the two resilient boards 31.

The two resilient boards 31 are located symmetrically to the base 10, and the two pedal supports 20 are located symmetrically to the base 10. The resilient boards 31 both are elongate and resilient boards which are made by metal.

The neck 34 is connected to the two respective first ends 311 of the two resilient boards 31, and the neck 34 swings relative to the mount 32. As shown in FIG. 3, the thickness T1 of the neck 34 is 0.85 to 1.18 times of the thickness T2 of each of the two resilient boards 31.

When in use, the user steps down the two pedals 21 alternatively, the two pedals 21 are respectively pivoted downward and bent the two resilient boards 31 respectively. When one pedal 21 is pivoted downward, the other pedal 21 bounces upward. In detail, when the left pedal 21 is pivoted downward, the resilient board 31 supports the left pedal 21 is deformed and stores energy which is released when the left pedal 21 is released so that the left pedal 21 bounces upward. The right pedal 21 acts the similar way as the left pedal 21. The left and right pedals 21 will be up and down alternatively. Because the neck 34 is connected to the two respective first ends 311 of the two resilient boards 31, so that the neck 34 swings left and right relative to the mount 32. By this way, the two pedals 21 are smoothly moved alternatively.

In one embodiment, each of the two pedal supports 20 has a contact member 22 located at the underside thereof, wherein the contact members 22 each are a roller 23. A ridge 24 protrudes from the periphery of the roller 23. The rollers 23 are respectively connected to the underside of the two pedal supports 20. The ridge 24 of each of the two rollers 23 contacts the top of the resilient board 31 corresponding thereto, so that the friction between the roller 23 and the resilient board 31 is reduced, and the relative movement between the resilient board 31 and the pedal support 20 is smooth.

The two first ends 311 of the resilient boards 31 are connected to the neck 34, and the neck 34 extends from the mount 32 which is fixed to the base 10, so that when either of the two resilient boards 31 is deformed, the other resilient board 31 will be affect to allow the stepping action of the user to be smooth and natural.

The stepper exerciser of the present invention has a simplified structure, and the cooperation between the resilient boards 31 of the buffering unit 30 and the pedal supports 20 works smoothly. The shortcomings of the conventional stepper exercisers are improved.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A stepper exerciser comprising: a base; two pedal supports respectively and pivotably connected to the base, and a buffering unit having two elongate resilient boards which support the two pedal supports, when the two pedal supports are alternatively pivoted downward, the two flexible boards are deformed alternatively, when the two pedal supports are alternatively released, the two resilient boards bounce alternatively to pivot the two pedal supports upward.
 2. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the two resilient boards has a first end and a second end, the first end of each of the two resilient boards is connected to the base, the second end of each of the two resilient boards supports at an underside of the pedal support corresponding thereto.
 3. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the two resilient boards has a first end and a second end, the two respective first ends of the two resilient boards are supported by the base, the two respective second ends of the two resilient boards are respectively supported at the underside of the two pedal supports.
 4. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 2, wherein the two respective first ends of the two resilient boards are connected to a mount which is fixed to the base.
 5. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 4, wherein the two respective first ends of the two resilient boards are merged together to form a V-shaped portion and connected to the mount, the two respective second ends of the two resilient boards extend upward.
 6. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 5, wherein a rounded angle is defined at the V-shaped portion and between the two first ends of the two resilient boards.
 7. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 5, wherein a neck extends from the mount and is connected to the V-shaped portion,
 8. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 7, wherein a thickness of the neck is 0.85 to 1.18 times of a thickness of each of the two resilient boards.
 9. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two resilient boards are located symmetrically to the base, the two pedal supports are located symmetrically to the base.
 10. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two resilient boards both are elongate and resilient boards.
 11. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two resilient boards both are made by metal.
 12. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the two pedal supports has a contact member located at the underside thereof, the contact members each have a ridge which contacts a top of the resilient board corresponding thereto.
 13. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the contact members is a roller and the ridge protrudes from a periphery of the roller, the rollers are respectively connected to the underside of the two pedal supports. 